Bipartisan support for battery plant welcomed
Date published: 22 November 2017
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill has welcomed the bipartisan support to fund a feasibility study for the Lithium-ion battery plant.
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls committed to fund the feasibility study for the battery plant during the Townsville Enterprise Debate of the Leaders event today.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pledged $3.1 million to fully fund the feasibility study earlier this month.
Today’s commitment from Mr Nicholls comes after he met with Cr Hill earlier this month. During the meeting the Mayor raised the need for State funding for the feasibility study.
“I’m very pleased the Opposition Leader has listened to how important this project is to Townsville and made a funding commitment for the feasibility study,” Cr Hill said.
Cr Hill said building the battery plant would transform Townsville’s economy and position the city as a national leader in high-tech manufacturing.
“The feasibility study is the next step and it’s great that we now have bipartisan support for funding,” Cr Hill said.
“This is a project which could create thousands of jobs and recharge the city’s economy for decades to come.
“I’d like to thank the Opposition for matching the Premier’s commitment to fund the business case for the battery plant.”
Cr Hill said the bipartisan support for the feasibility study funding was important to show that any incoming Queensland Government would back the project.
“This gives a signal to the business community that we are serious about building the battery plant here in Townsville and we want to encourage investment in new industries,” Cr Hill said.
The battery plant is being proposed by a consortium headed by Boston Energy and Innovation.
